GMA creates Task Force Sugarlandia

President Arroyo has created a task force that would effectively implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on sugar cane plantations all over the country to promote the global competitiveness of the sugar industry as well as the production of ethanol fuel.

Under Memorandum Order No. 119, the President formed "Task Force Sugarlandia," which came at the heels of reports that the 6,000-hectare Hacienda Luisita Inc. of the Cojuangcos might already be included in the government’s land reform program, a move that would pave the way for land title distributions to some 5,000 farmer beneficiaries early next year.

"The sugar industry is one of the major economic forces of our country and the efficient implementation of land reform in all areas will promote growth and global competitiveness of our sugar industry," the President said.

Task Force Sugarlandia is mandated to conduct and complete a study identifying and addressing specific problems in the implementation of the CARP as provided under Republic Act No. 6657 directly affecting the development of the sugar industry and conduct consultations in areas to be identified by the task force.

It shall also submit recommendations to the President on the formulation of policies, plans, programs and projects relative to the development of the sugar industry and implementation of the ethanol program.

Earlier, the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) voted to uphold the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) recommendation to scrap the 16-year-old stock deal option the Cojuangcos forged with Hacienda Luisita farmers.

The PARC en banc will meet today to finally resolve the land dispute at Luisita.

However, Mrs. Arroyo, as PARC chairman, will not preside the meeting. According DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, the President has decided to inhibit herself from the meeting but did not elaborate why.

Members of the PARC include government agencies and stakeholders such as non-government organizations involved in the implementation of CARP. — With Katherine Adraneda